THE ROTARY CLUB OF CHIANG MAI NORTH was established in 1979.
Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand is located in the Northern
region of the country. The Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North boasts 33
members and represents a wide cross section of the local community
which embraces the Rotary Motto: Service above Self.
Volume 1
Issue 6
March
2011
Past President Chueng Muangmai and Rotarian
Dr. Thongrak Leerapanth
were recently inducted
into the Rotary Club of
Chiang Mai North.
PP Chueng was the
President of the Rotary
Club of Singburi, Singburi Province 18 years ago. Now lives in
Chiang Mai, PP Chueng is involved in cold storage and
transportation business.
Rotarian Dr. Thongrak is a noted cosmetic surgeon from Rak Suay Dr. Thong Clinic.
Welcome to the club. We look forward to your assistance
with our service projects. Congratulations!!
In Rotary we recognize March as Literacy Month. This is when we focus on the importance of
literacy and education in our humanitarian services. Rotary Literacy Month is a good opportunity
for all Rotary clubs and districts to raise awareness about literacy by initiating new literacy
projects, and recognize literacy achievement from the
past. Rotarians everywhere are encouraged to
participate in Rotary Literacy Month by engaging in
services or activities which specifically address
literacy and education issues either in their
communities or abroad.
Our club recognizes the importance of literacy and education by organizing a
fund raising every week which includes members and guests taking part in a
“Lucky Draw” where all funds go to the “Books for Schools Project”. The
Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North supplies hundreds of new library books for
students between 5-15 years of age in both municipal and remote areas of
Chiang Mai. This is being done in an effort to upgrade and expand the quality
and variety of Thai language books available in schools in Chiang Mai.
In 1985, Rotary declared basic literacy to be a pre-condition to the development of peace. More
than half the world‟s 33,000 Rotary clubs address the full range of literacy and mathematical
challenges for primary, vocational, and adult learners as well as teacher
training.
Literacy projects have been created for formal
schooling, older children who do not attend
school, functionally illiterate adults (particularly
women), special groups, and teacher training. The
idea of these projects is to guide and support
national authorities towards improving mass illiteracy in developing
countries. In Thailand, for example, the “Lighthouse” literacy effort has
been so successful that the government adopted it as a national program.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
nearly 800 million people over the age of 15 lack even basic reading and writing skills worldwide.
In addition, there are roughly 137 million school age children who are illiterate around the world.
Women take up over 64% of the entire illiterate population in the world today.
We really had a great time at the Art Museum Theater.
Borderless Friendship Foundation (BFF) in association with the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North organized the
“Borderless Friendship Concert” on February 12 at the Art Museum Theater of
Chiang Mai University Art Center. The purpose of the concert is to raise funds to
build shelter for hill tribe children in Prao District, Chiang Mai.
For 2 hours we enjoyed the lively
performances of local hill tribe children
from hostels in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Ban Saen Suk and Ban Teen Tad Hostels
(we really love your “Chicken Dance”!!),
Samantha Lu – a charming singer from USA, Australian Artists - Terry
Mackintosh and Jeremy
Jongsma (from Moon Dog J), Asian Puppetry Show “Suwan Hoi
Sang” by Hobby Hut and Faculty of Fine Arts Chiang Mai University led by Prof. Wilawan
Sawedseranee, Sport Dance by Chiang Mai
University Student Sport Dance Club.
We would like to express our special thanks
to all of 16 generous donors and various product sponsors including Betagro, Chiang Mai
Fresh Milk, Khun Noi Bakery, Bakerista and Khun Ju Bakery.
Borderless Friendship Foundation (BFF)
The foundation was registered on July 27, 2009 in Chiang
Mai, Thailand with Mr. Pramote Eua–Amnuay as Chairman
and Country Development advisor.
Borderless Friendship Foundation (BFF) works with 9 ethnic
groups and low land Thai in remote areas of Northern
Thailand. The foundation strives to improve the quality of
lives, especially for children and youth.
BFF has proudly collaborated with Rotary International, Rotary Club of Chiang Mai, Rotary Club of Chiang
Mai North, Scarborough, Western Australia. Other co-operative partners include: Borderless Friendship
Western Australia, Engineer Without Borders (EWB) – Case Western Reserve University, Department of
Livestock Development – Chiang Mai University and local government organizations.
BFF work together with Rotary
Safe drinking water and sanitation
BFF together with Rotary Club of Twinsburg, Rotary Club of Nordonia (Northfield), Rotary Club of Strongville,
Rotary International District 6460, 6630 and 3360, Engineer Without Borders (EWB), Rotary Club of Chiang
Mai North and Chiang Mai University provided safe drinking water to five schools and four hostels for ethnic
children in Prao, Mae Ai, Wiang Haeng and Chiang Dao districts in Chiang Mai and Mae Chan district in
Chiang Rai. So far more than 2,000 children benefit from this project.
Children at Risk Program
BFF in association with the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North look after more than 250 children in rural areas
of Thailand – Myanmar border. We work with Thai and other international organizations to improve nutrition
and shelter conditions.
For more information, please visit BFF website at: www.borderlessfriendshipfoundation.org
Rotary International District 3360
February 19 – 20, 2011
Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North hosted the Assistant District Governor and District Committee
Training of Rotary International District 3360 at Amari
Rincome Hotel in Chiang Mai on February 19 -20.
There were 57 participants attending the 2 day training.
The training helped prepare incoming Assistant
Governors and District Committee members and chairs
to support Rotary Clubs as they pursue the object of
Rotary.
Many Past District Governors and Past Assistant District Governors came to share their
experiences of how they successfully implemented each project during their terms. District
Governor Elect Chamnan Chanruang from the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North is actively
preparing his team for the year 2012.
During dinner on February 19, Mr. Noraseth
Pathmanand, the Host Organization Committee
Chair of Rotary International Convention in
Bangkok 2012, came to share with us information
on the convention preparation. Planning is well
underway for this 103rd Rotary International
Convention that will be held in May of 2012. We
will be able to visit the Rotary International
Convention 2012 in Bangkok website in May this year.
February 23
Rotary International District 3360 celebrated the Rotary’s 106th year at Chiang Mai Airport Plaza on February 23.
Our theme of the celebration was “End Polio Now”. The Chair of the celebration organization was Captain John
Blair from the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai.
After the opening ceremony by
ML Panada Disakul Na Ayudthaya, the
Governor of Chiang Mai, District 3360
arranged many interesting activities, for
instance; hill tribe shows, videos of
“This is Rotary” and “Rotary’s Push to
End Polio Now”.
In the afternoon, President Una
Schneider from the Rotary Club of
Chiangmai gave scholarships to the
children from “New Life Center”.
Afterwards, we had a ceremony to thank all the contributors of the Polio Eradication Fund. Dr. Virachai
Jamroendararasame , District Governor of District 3360, officially received the donation on behalf of the district.
The highlight of the celebration was a drawing contest for children from ages 8 to 17, under the topic “Polio, the
Nightmarish Devil in a Child’s Dream”. District 3360 also encouraged Rotarians and other people who came to
this special event, to give blood donations to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.
106 years after the formation of the first Rotary Club, today, there are 1.2 million Rotarians from over 32,000 Rotary
clubs in more than 200 countries.
Our club recognizes the importance of literacy and education in our
community services. For the third year
Chiang Mai Municipality, Payap University,
Amari Rincome Hotel and the Rotary Club of
Chiang Mai North organized a “Spelling
Bee” contest for the fourth grade students in
Chiang Mai. This year our Spelling Bee was
held at Wat Pa Peng Municipal School on
February 25. There were 55 fourth grade
students from 11 municipal schools
attending this enjoyable half-day spelling competition.
After an opening ceremony by the Deputy Mayor of Chiang Mai,
Mr. Soonthorn Yamsiri, the students attended the 3 rounds of
English spelling competition. The 4
winners received special prizes from
President Warunee; each participating
student received an English-Thai
Dictionary.
Our appreciative contributors for our
Spell Bee contest included Past District
Governor of District 3340 – Ratpratheep Kriratiurai, PP Chueng and Rtn
Dr. Thongrak from the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North.
Also our special thanks to Shana
Kongmun from Chiangmai Mail
who came to help us as an
officiator and five judges from the
Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North,
Dr. Saifon Laohavishudhi from
Payap University and Ajarn
Kriangrai Rawichai from Wat Pa
Peng Municipal School.
The Spelling Bee contest has been
so successful among schools in
town of Chiang Mai that the Chiang Mai Municipality adopted it as one
of their English activity youth programs.
Twelve members of our club contributed to the Annual Programs Fund through “Every Rotarian, Every Year
(EREY)” which allowed us to successfully carry out two community services in February.
Water Tanks
Water tanks are essential to supply clean
drinking water for students in remote areas.
On February 27, the Rotary Club of Chiang
Mai North donated 10 water tanks to 5
schools in Prao and Vieng Heng District in
Chiang Mai, enough to supply for the need of
more than 1,300 children coming from 15
villages.
Dictionaries
We purchased 300 English-Thai dictionaries for schools in town and remote areas of Chiang Mai.
The mission of the Annual Program Fund echoes that of the Rotary Foundation: It enables Rotarians to promote
world good will and understanding through better education, improvement of health and poverty alleviation. At any
given moment, thousands of Rotarians volunteer their time and knowledge to serve these purposes. All
contributions to the Annual Programs Fund are wisely allocated to quality Rotary projects.
AmigoVision Eye Foundation Mobile Clinics in Samoeng, Chiang Mai
The mission of AmigoVision Eye Foundation Mobile
Clinics in Chiang Mai’s Samoeng District was a great
success.
3360 District GovernorDr. Veerachai
Jamroendararasme, the
Rotary Club of Chiang Mai
North and Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North Eye Service
Foundation (CMNE) in association with Dr. Busabong
Jamroendararasame from The Rotary Club Tin Thai Ngam, the
Rotary Club of Chiang Mai South,
the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai
Airport, Suan Dok Hospital Foundation, Department of
Ophthalmology & Optometry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, Rain Tree
Foundation, Public Health
Department of Samoeng and
“AmigoVision Eye Foundation
(AVF)” from USA organized a trip
for mobile clinics to Samoeng
District, west of Chiang Mai on
February 28 to March 3.
Two doctors and other fourteen
volunteers from “AmigoVision
Eye Foundation”, coming from
6 different Rotary Clubs in
USA, led by the Mission
Director, Dr. Kurt Wilkening
from Rotary Club of Bear Creek
Valley, Oregon, USA traveled
from Vietnam and arrived in Chiang Mai on February 27.
For four days, AmigoVision team worked together with Thai
Rotarians and staff from Suan Dok Hospital Foundation and
Department of Ophthalmology &
Optometry, Chiang Mai University at the
Municipal Hall of Southern Samoeng.
Our patients are from three hill tribes:
Karen, Lisu and Lahu, low land villagers,
monks and nuns from 45 villages in 5
sub-districts in Samoeng. We successfully provided vision exams,
referrals to 910 patients and hundreds of pairs of eye glasses were
distributed during these four days of humanitarian service.
It is very rewarding to see the
appreciation from all that were
checked up at the clinics and could
enjoy better vision as a result. It is an
amazing feeling to know that we are
part of an effort that improves
someone’s quality of life. Thank you so much everybody.
The foundation was established in 2000. The goal is to provide better sight - through
comprehensive vision exams and glasses - for the underserved people of our world. Since 2000,
the foundation has provided vision exams, referrals, and glasses for over 12,000 patients in Mexico
and South-East Asia.
AVF’s world community service outreach is designed to help those in need of vision care. The
mobile clinics have traveled to the mountains of Central Mexico, the jungle villages of Vietnam,
and the highlands of Thailand. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bear Creek Valley located in
Medford, Oregon, all of AVF’s vision clinics have been funded by personal donations and grants
through The Rotary Foundation.
For more information, please visit AmigoVision Foundation Website at:
www.amigovision.org
In September 2010, The Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North announced the establishment of The
Rotary Club of Chiang Mai North Eye Service Foundation (CMNE), with District Governor Elect
Chamnan Chanruang as the chairman.
CMNE objectives for the year 2010-2011:
1. To assist the Rotary Club of Chiang Mai South with eye care services.
2. To seek partners to create a Rotary Matching Grant.
3. To sponsor cataract operations for seniors in need.
4. To provide specialized eye care for those with eye disabilities.
5. To provide communities services for people who have various eye problems.
6. To supply knowledge and information to enable people to maintain their own healthy eye care.
7. To effectively work together with other community organizations and/or foundations involved
with community services.
8. To operate the foundation as a social service foundation without any political aim, objective or
affiliation.
World Rotaract Week
March 7- 13
Rotaract clubs around the world are celebrating World Rotaract Week, March 7 to 13. During this
week, Rotaract clubs are asked to partner with their Rotary clubs to complete a service project
together and encourage a nearby Rotary club to sponsor a new Rotaract club in its area.
About Rotaract
Rotaract stands for “Rotary in Action”. Rotaract originally began as a
Rotary International Youth program in 1968 and has grown into major
Rotary-sponsored and fastest –growing organization of over 8,200
clubs in about 170 countries. It is a professional service, leadership
and community service organization for young men and women
between the ages of 18 to 30. Rotaract Clubs are either community or
university based. Rotaract clubs are sponsored by local Rotary Clubs,
this makes Rotaract true partner in service and key member of the family of Rotary.
Rotaract provides an opportunity for young men and women to enhance the
knowledge and skills that will assist them in personal development, to address the
physical and social needs of their communities and to promote better relations
between all people worldwide through a framework of friendship and service.
YE
Update
This month YE Ploy has her story from Canada with many nice pictures to share with us….
Tip-Toe with the Caribou
Everyone has dreams but not everyone makes their dreams come true. I
always dream of living my life in extremely different way, like in Africa or
the North Pole. I love to learn the difference and I think the difference
makes this world beautiful. Today I would like to share my experiences I
have got from the north of Canada. I just made one of my dreams come
true!
This trip is called „Tip-Toe with the Caribou.‟ It is eight-day trip for inbound exchange students
of district 5370 in Canada going to Northwest Territory. Before going to the north, I had to
answer three questions they asked about how this trip meant to me and only 18 students were
selected. I was lucky to be one of them.
Everybody thought we flew to Northwest Territory, but we did not.
We had three vans heading to Yellowknife town and were on the road
for almost three days, stopped sometimes for staying overnight and
having meals. It was not boring at all in the vans because we were
singing the songs and talking about interesting stuff.
There were some more interesting activities I did when we were on
the way. We went ice fishing at Great Slave Lake. It was my first time
so I was so excited (actually, everything was the first time for me.)
We also ate the fish we caught for supper too, really good dishes. We met some native people and they performed us
the native drums show. It was very interesting because they spoke their own language and how they lived was
amazing. I would love to learn more about them but we did not have so much time.
We arrived in Yellowknife town in the third day of the trip and stayed overnight at Prelude
Lake Campground, which was no running water, power or heat at all. So we had to make
campfire and lived like people from the North Pole. We had started building Quincy
(snow hut) that day and then we slept in the Quincy the next night. The night we slept
outside was really cold, -52 degrees, but in the snow hut was warm. My friends and I had
a great time sleeping in Quincy, we talked about some funny stuff and I had to control
myself not to laugh too hard because the Quincy might be collapsed.
Moreover, we went snow shoeing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and got to see some wild
animals. We also visited the Rotary Club of Yellowknife for lunch meeting and got a warm
welcome from them. The rest of the trip, we drove back to Edmonton for two days and had
a party the last night.
We got to know each others better and share our experiences during the exchange year. I have learned a lot from
this trip and it will make the rest of my year more valuable for me.
I would like to thank so many people but I do not think I can write all of them in this page. So I thank Rotary for
giving this opportunity to me and making my dream come true. I now know the best way to make my dreams come
true is to wake up….